Disappearing bed.



R. W. & G. W. BOSTWICK.

msAPPEAmNs BED.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20. 191B. 1,300,694. Patented Apr. 15,1919.

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R. W. '& G. W. B'OSTWICK.

DISAPPEAHING BED. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20. |918.

1,300,694.. Patented Apr. 15,1919.

R. W. & G. W. BOSTWICK.

DISAPPEARING BED. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2o. I9I.

.Patented Apr. 15,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- ing completely UNITED STATES PATENT @FFMEQ ROBERT W. BOSTWIGK AND GRANT W. BOSTWIGK, 0F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

nisarrnenrne BED.

Application led J une 20, 1918. Serial No. 240,951.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that we, ROBERT W. Bos'rwioK and GRANT W. 'Bosrwioie citizens of United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, h. ve invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Disappearing Beds, of which the following is a specification.

This vinvention relates to disappearing lbed-s and more particularly to beds of this class adapted to be folded and stored within a space beneath the floor of a room, and has for one of its objects the provision of such -a bed, that may be folded upon itself thereby lpermitting its storage Within a small space. f

Another object` is the provision of a bed of this class that will be so constructed that it may be raised from` and lowered into the storage space without the aid of complicated `an-d expensive lever mechanism. e Beds of the above general class heretofore constructed have been heavy, expensiveaffairs and required `elaborate lever mechanism to raise and lowerthe same, the beds themselves (being very elaborate and costly. However, our present construction offbed is adapted to be installed in cheaper apartments, hotels, etc., and `is constructed of light dunaxble material, and is cheap to rnam'rfacture and install, andV yet efficient and serves all the purposes ofthe heavy eX- pensive beds of this class.'

In carrying out our invention, we form a suitable housing or recess in the space be- Y low the floor and mount our improved door raising lever in position, and place, the folded bed in position within the recess. The housing `or recess is closed by a suitable closure or recess ladapted to be automatically raised to support the rear end of rthe bed and serve as a head board. y

The invention is adapted and designed for use where floor space is at a premium, as in apartments and small houses, the bed belconcealed under i the floor when not in use, thereby permitting la dual use of the room. It will be understood, however, that although we have shown and described one preferred formv of our invention in the accompanying drawing and specification, various changes in design and details of construction, especially in the design of the bed proper, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Specification of Letters Patent.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a cross section taken at the side of the recess showing the bed raised into position for occupancy;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the bed folded within the recess;

Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. l but showing the bed partly unfolded in full lines and fully unfolded in dotted lines;

Fig. 4: is an end elevation showing the bed in the position shown in Fig. 1 and showing the means for raising. the platform along the sides of the recess;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken at the end of the recess showing the bed folded within the same, with mattress, etc., removed; and

Figs. 6, 7 8 and 9 are fragmentary views showing the detail construction of the central support. s

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 2 designates the usual joists or beams arrangedbcneath the flooring and within the space between the floor and ceiling which forms a suitable recess or pit adapted to receive our bed structure. The bottom of the recess or pit is closed by boards 3 secured to strips 4 which are mounted on the ends of the recess, such boards also serve as a mounting for the ceiling lath of the room below. The pit or recess is closed by a door member 5 hinged longitudinally thereof, land adapted to be held in closed position by lool: 6.

The door 5 when closed normally lies flush with and forms a part of the fioor and is usually constructed of the same material as the floor, whereby the appearance is not marred. It is suitably braced on the under side by a plurality of battens 7, spacers 8, andtrusses 9. The trusses 9 are composed of strips of metal secured to each side edge of the door, passing over the spacers 8, and adjustably secured together by turnbuckles 10.

It will be understood that if desired the door 5 may have its under side paneled or suitably draped to improve its appearance, since it serves vas the headboard of a bed.

The door is adapted to be automatically raised to a predetermined angled position, above the oor immediately upon the withdrawal of the lock 6 by the lever bar ll which is substantially U-shaped and has a pivotal mounting l2@ adjacent its free ends with the sides of the recess.- The bar 11 has springs 13 secured to its free ends which springs are secured to lugs 1/1 on the sides of the recess 'below the pivotal mountings 12, and such bar is adapted to engage a socket and bear against the under `side of the door 5. Springs 13 are tensionedv by the rotation of the lowering the door.

After the door 5 has been raised to the angled position by the bar 11, it is raised to a vertical position by hand and locked in this position by the insertion of bar 11 into onel of the socket lugs 15. Above the lugs 15 we provide a pair of similar lugs 15 adapted to support the end of bedstead section 16 when erected.

The improved bed for which the recess is constructed comprises a bed bottom composed of two sections A and B, each section composed of side bars 16 and end bar 17. The sections A-B are hinged together by locking hinge member 17 which prevents' such sections from moving above a horizontal plane when lowered. A gravity locking member to prevent the collapsing of such sections is carried by the hinges 17 and comprises locking arms 18, and a connecting bar 19 connecting the two locks. The locking arms 18 will swing under the terminals of the section A thereby holding such terminals upwardly in engagement with thehinge lock 17', thus preventing the collapse of the bed.

The bed bottom has main supporting legs 2O pivotally mounted on each side of the section B and supported by brace arms 21 and 22, and each leg 20 has a roller journaled on its free end. Legs 2O are secured together and further braced by connecting rod 23. BraceV arms 21 are pivotally mounted onl the rod 23 adjacent each of the legs 2O and have their upper ends free.V However, when the legs 20 are in operative position, braces 21 have their free ends engaged against lugs 24 on the side bars 16 of section B. When it is desired to fold the legs 20 into collapsed position, the braces 21 are released from engagement with the lugs 24 and such legs are forced upwardly, thereby straightening out the legs 20 and braces 21 on a line with the side bars 16, and when forced completely up they will lie snugly in the side bars. Brace arms 22 are pivotally mounted on the side bars 16 and have their lower ends cut away as at 22', and are adapted to detachably engage a flexible bearing member 26 mounted on rodl 23, such bearing being forced out of normal position and under tension when engaged by the brace 22.

The bearing members 26 comprise a cylindrical ferrule having an inclosedflexible rubber gasket 27 which closely fits against the rod 23. The brace arms 22. are adapted to be folded upwardly and lie within the side bars 16 of section A when not in use,

.bar 11 upon its pivots when and to be forced downwardly and into engagement with the bearing 26 when it is desired to support legs 20, which will cause the rubber gasket 27 to be compressed and grip' aga-inst the rod 23.

The legs 20 have a connecting thrust plate or strip 28 secured thereto, extending across from one leg to the other and having inclined' recessed seats for the brace arms 22 so as to insure the positioning of sucharms against the members 26.Y l l y It will be understood that the brace arms 21 and 22 are on each side of the bed bottom and such arms are'joinedby channel bars 29 or other such means so that they will act together and also such rods serve to stiffen or support such braces. i

The forward end of the bed is adapted to be supported by legs 30 pivotally mounted by slotted openings engaging studs extending from each side frame at 31 to permit 'of their being folded along the bed frame when the bed is collapsed. lhen'such legs are collapsed each is held in position by hook member 32 secured thereto and adapted to be engaged over or through eye 33 on the bed frame, as in Fig.` 2. The legs 30 have a catch member 34 secured` thereto to permit such leg being secured to the end of the bed frame section, thus serving as a lever to aid in raising the bed from within the recess. Catch 34 is recessed at its middle so as to engage the upper and lower edges ofthe end bar 17 of bed frame section 16.

A handle member 35 is secured on the forward end of the sectionl B to facilitate the lifting operation of such section from within the recess. v

Platforms or side boards 36 are hingedly arranged along eachA side of the recess and are adapted to normally lie along the sides and to be lifted up flush with the floor when the bed is raised from the recess. Platforms 36 are mounted on suitable cables 37 Vwhich are secured to coil springs 38 which in turn are secured to a transverse cable`38secured across the bed bottom. Other cables 39 are secured to the platforms and extend downwardly and ,are secured to the bottom of the recess to limit the upward movement of such platforms. The arrangement of the cables 37, coil springs 38, and. cable 39 is such that the springs will become taut before the bed reaches its normal raised position, thereby holding ysuch platforms firmly in their raised position.

`Suitable rollers 40 are mounted on the section A of the bed bottom tovfacilitatel its movement along the bottom of the recess. Other rollers 11 are mounted on 'the bottom of and extend transversely of the recess to provide a bearing' for the mattress and springs which will be slightly loose whenthe bed is folded. It will, of course, be understood that when the bed bottom is unfolded and both sections `A and B straightened on an even plane the springs become taut. Stop members 42 are secured to the bottom of -the recess adjacent its one end and are adapted to be engaged by the rear end of the bed when lowered into the recess, thus assuring the correct positioning of the bed within the same. i

When the bed has been raised from the recess and the parts assembled, Athe whole device is pushed back and the rear end bar 17 is engaged lover the lugs 15 on the door 5, thus firmly supporting the rear end of the bed.

The operation of the device in detail is as follows:

Assuming that the device is assembled and in position within the recess with the door 5 closed, the lock or catch 6 on the door 5 is released, whereupon the door will rise to an angled position due to the spring tension on lever bar 11. The door is then manually` lifted to a vertical position and the rod 11 moved upwardly and engaged in socket lugs 15 to firmly hold the door in its vertical position.

The legs 20' adjusted t-o their operative position and' brace y21 j secured in place against lug 24, the handle 35 is then grasped by the operator and section B of the bed is raised to a vertical position. The legs 30 are now swung to a vertical position and catch 34 engaged with the bed frame, the legs 30 now serve as levers, and the rollers on the legs 20* serve as fulcrums, and by pulling down upon legs 30, the bed is raised and at the same time moved upon rollers 40, thus causing the pants to assume a horizontal plane and become locked in this position by gravity, locking members 18. By further pulling and pushing down upon the leg '2O the bed will be completely raised from within the recess and assume a horizontal position with relation to the floor. It is then `pushed back until the rear end is cngaged over the lugs 16, thus supporting the rear end.

The braces 22 are now lowered to engage the member 26, thus firmly supporting legs 20. After the legs 20 are firmly braced, the legs 30 may be released and dropped so that Vthey will engage the floor and firmly support the forward end of the bed.

When the bed is to be lowered, the operator will adjust legs 30 so that they will lie along the bed frame, release braces 22 and fold them into position along the side bars of the frame, lift the bed from the lugs 16 and lower the rear end into the pit or recess, and move the same along until the rear end bar engages the stops 42. As the bed is lowered into the pit the gravity lock which holds the two sections of bed together will be released due to thevweight of rod 19. After the rear end bar has engaged `the stops 42 the operator will fold the bed section B over section A. The bed springs and mattress will now assume substantially the position shown in Fig. 2 and rest upon the rollers 41, so that the operator may -collapse legs 20 and braces 21, release the bar 11, and close the door until it locks.

What we claim is:

1. In combination with a ioor recess having a hinged cover provided with supporting abutments, a bed comprising a hinged bottom adapted to be folded upon itself, means for locking said bottom in erected operative position, with one end resting on said abutments, and leg members on said bottom adapted to be folded up against said bottom.

2. In combination with a floor recess having a cover, and means for bracing said cover in upright position, a bed comprising a bottom composed of two sections hingedly secured together and adapted to be erected to' make interengaging supporting engagement with said cover, means for locking said bed sections against collapsing, and leg members mounted on said' bottom and adapted` to be folded up against the bottom when it is desired to collapse the bed.

3. The combination with a bed-receiving floor recess having a hinged closed door provided with bed supporting abutments, and means for automatically opening said door, of a bed comprising a bottom composed of two sections hingedly secured together adapted to be supported at one end on said abutments, means for locking said sections against collapsing, and leg members mounted on said bottom and adapted to be folded up against said bottom when it isv desired to collapse said bed.

4. The combination with a floor having a recess therein adapted to contain a folded bed and a closure therefor, of a bed bottom comprising two sections hingedly secured together and adapted to fold back upon one another, centrally arranged legs, legs at the forward end of said bed bottom, and means on said closure adapted to support the rear end of said bed when it is extended.

5. The combination with a floor having a recess therein and a closure therefor, of a bed bottom adapted to be folded upon itself and be normally concealed within said recess, said bed bottom comprising two sections hingedly joined together, collapsible leg members mounted adjacent the center of said bed bottom, other legs mounted adjacent the forward end of said bottom, and means on said closure for supporting the rear end of said bed bottom when the closure is elevated and the bed is extended.

6. The combination with a floor having a recess therein, and a suitable closure for such recess having supporting lugs 0n its under side, of a bed adapted to be disposed within said recess when not in use, said bed comprising a bed botto-m composed of two parts liingedly secured together and adapted to be folded one upon the other when disposed in said recess and to"be extended in unfolded positionl when in use, means for locking said parts. in extended position, and collapsible legs for supporting the forward end and central portion of said bed bottom, the rear liDi' endy of said bcdbeing` adapted to be Secured to .and supported by said lugs on said closure when the closure is elevated and the bed is extended.

7. In a collapsible bed bottom, comprising two partsn hingedly secured together,l said parts being adapted to be folded one upon the other for storage and to be extended in unfolded position when in use, and means for locking said parts in extended position,

' leg members adjacent the center of said bed bottom, said leg members being pivotally mounted on said bed bottom, a connecting bar secured to said legs, braces pivo-tally` mounted on said bar adjacent each leg and adapted to engage projections on said bed bottom when in operative position, other braces pivoted to said bed bottom and adapt` ed to engage flexible bearing members mountedion said connecting rod adjacent each leg,

and transverse connecting rods-secured to bed bottom `beingy adapted to be lifted from said recess and extended when in use, means for supporting the forward end of'said bed bottom, the rear end of said bed bottom being supported by said lugs on said closure when the closure is elevated and the bed is extended, movable` platforms hngedly mounted along each side of 'said recess, flexible cable members secured to said platforms and said bed adapted' tov move the same up'- wardly when said bed is moved upwardly, and other cables secured to said platforms and the bottom of said recess to limit the upward movement thereof. l

In testimony whereof we hereunto affix our signatures.

ROBERT W. BOSTWICK. GRANT W. BOSTWICK.

Copies of: this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing-the "Commissioner of Patents,

Y Washington, D. C. 

